Years ago, when a boat was lost in a storm on Lake Michigan, Northwestern University formed a rescue team. Student Edward Spencer saved 17 people from sinking. Years later, Mr. Spencer, then an old man, was asked what memory of it stood out. Spencer replied, “Only this, sir: of the 17 people saved, not one thanked me.
Today’s text can be capsulized in three words: gratitude, grumbling and gathering.Exodus 15:1–21 shows
gratitude
for miraculous protection from the cruel empire that enslaved Israel 400 years. Moses, recounting the Red Sea deliverance, exalts Almighty God. Verse 11, “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” No one is like our God in love, power and provision.
But difficulties can transform gratitude into
grumbling
. After few days’ travel Israel was murmuring — could not the God who saved them from an army provide good water? In 15:23–25, God instructed them to toss a log into the putrid water. Bad water was transformed; grumbling ceased.
Chapter 16 reveals a third characteristic. Food supplies were running low. Again, grumbling, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” God’s response, 16:4: “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.” He planned a
gathering
. Enough food, but no surplus. It was a gracious and faithful provision, 16:35: “The people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land.”
God keeps his promises. Philippians 4:19 expresses it, “My God shall supply all your needs … ” Through 40 years, he provided three basic needs we all share — shelter (protection), water and food.
Thank you, God, for your faithfulness to your people through the many years, including today.
Irvin Verrill, Dowling Park, Fla.
